Death of 3 Youths in Cachar: Gauhati HC Seeks Post-Mortem Reports Of The Deceased From Assam Govt In Next Hearing

The family members of the deceased filed a writ petition sought the High Court's directive to conduct a post-mortem of the bodies by doctors from outside Assam

The Gauhati High Court has sought post-mortem reports of the 3 men killed in a shootout with police in Silchar in the Cachar district of Assam on the intervening night of July 16 and 17 on the next hearing on Friday.

The court order comes after the family members of the deceased filed a writ petition alleging that it was a case of “extra judicial execution.” They also told the court that the police asked them to take the bodies from the morgue at Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH).

The petitioners also sought the High Court’s directive to conduct a post-mortem of the bodies by doctors from outside Assam. 

After hearing the petition, the High Court today issued notices to the Assam government and police asking the government counsel to inquire whether any postmortem has been conducted or not in respect of the dead bodies and to produce the post-mortem report, if available, on the next date fixed.

The Gauhati High Court also asked government counsel to obtain the report from the police on the matter and produce the same before the Court in a sealed cover by the next hearing for the perusal of the Court.

Additionally, it directed the District and Police Administration of the Cachar District to allow the bodies to be kept in the morgue of the SMCH, till the orders are given on the following date.

The 3 men–Lallungawi Hmar (21) and Lalbikung Hmar (33) of Assam, and Joshua (35) from Manipur belonging to the Hmar community were killed in a fierce gunbattle at Bhuban Pahar in Cachar district.

Earlier, Cachar SP Numal Mahatta said that on July 16, based on inputs regarding the movement of suspected militants at Krishnapur road under Kachudharam Police Station, a police team rushed to the location and conducted a search operation.

During the operation, the police team apprehended the trio near Ganganagar part-VI and recovered sophisticated arms and ammunition –AK 47 rifle, one single barrel rifle and one pistol from their possession.

During their thorough interrogation, they revealed that their counterparts were still taking shelter around Bhuban Hills with a huge cache of arms to carry out some subversive activities in the Assam Manipur border areas. Subsequently, the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Headquarter along with Police Station staff and AG commandos launched a special operation in the general areas of Bhuban Hills side to nab the suspected militants being led by the apprehended culprits.

During the operation, the police team encountered a sudden firing attack by the suspected militants taking shelter in back side of the steep hills. Police in retaliation fired several rounds. During the heavy exchange of fire from both sides, the apprehended trio sustained bullet injuries, while, about 6-7 suspected militants hiding in the difficult hilly terrain managed to flee away from the spot taking the cover of darkness and uneven terrain.

The trio were rushed to the hospital where they were declared brought dead.

Also Read: What actually happened at Bhuban Pahar along the Assam-Mizoram broder?

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